In the late hours of a Tuesday night in Chesapeake, Virginia, the life of 22-year-old Tyneka Johnson was tragically cut short. On November 22, 2022, Johnson, a female employee at a Walmart on Sam's Circle, was among those present for a meeting in the break room just before the start of an overnight shift. Shortly after 10 p.m., a coworker and night-shift manager, 31-year-old Andre Bing, opened fire on his colleagues.
The attack was sudden and violent, creating a scene of terror within the store where employees and shoppers were preparing for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Johnson’s family desperately sought information about her safety, posting pleas on social media. Their worst fears were confirmed when she was identified as one of the six employees killed in the rampage. Described as the nicest person who never bothered anyone, Johnson had recently celebrated her 21st birthday. She was known to be a cheerful and stylish young woman with a love for music and dancing, who had dreams of attending college. A makeshift memorial with flowers and balloons was soon placed outside the Walmart in her honor.
The investigation revealed that the shooter, Andre Bing, had purchased the 9mm pistol used in the attack on the morning of the shooting. Evidence, including a note found on his phone, suggested the motive was revenge for perceived workplace harassment and betrayal. Survivors reported that the gunman seemed to target specific managers and was laughing at one point during the assault. After killing six of his coworkers and injuring several others, Bing died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Because the perpetrator took his own life, there were no arrests or criminal trials. However, the tragedy led to lawsuits being filed by survivors against the company, alleging that Walmart had neglected safety in light of previous complaints about the shooter's behavior.
